The Green Machine

[The Rat]

by Dave Bailey, on Flickr

The 1954 British Grand Prix, held at Silverstone Circuit on July 17th, was noteworthy for the request by organisers for an RAF display before the race. It was thought that it might bring more people out, and showcase British technology.

by Dave Bailey, on Flickr

by Dave Bailey, on Flickr

The RAF decided that the new Hawker Hunter F.6 would make a solo performance, and 111 Squadron was selected to appear. In keeping with the spirit of the day, the aircraft was painted in British racing green, which fairly glowed in the sunshine. The drop tanks were left in the standard colours of grey upper and high speed silver underside.

by Dave Bailey, on Flickr

by Dave Bailey, on Flickr

The crowd gathered early to watch, and the pilot, Squadron leader Mike McEvoy, became an instant celebrity, and continued to appear at special occasions to show the flag. 

by Dave Bailey, on Flickr

The Kit

The venerable Airfix offering, which most of us have probably built at one time or another. My first was in the mid 1960s, and this was very much a nostalgia excursion. Typical of the era are overly thick gear doors, little internal detail, raised panel lines, and who cares? If you built it when it was new you probably have fond memories, and that counts for a lot. The smaller decals fell off into another dimension when I picked it up after drying overnight, but the roundels and fin flashes are defiantly hanging on, resplendent in red, white, and blue. The paint is Tamiya 85043 TS-43 Racing Green from a rattle-can. The pitot tube was missing, so it was replaced with stretched sprue.

Mike, I never met you, but you seem like the sort of person that everyone should meet. This one is for you.

[PR19_Kit]

BRILLIANT, and Mike would have loved it for sure. 

[Gondor]

That's very nice and a good use of the old Airfix kit 

Gondor

[NARSES2]

Come out really well Ratty